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The role of bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infections

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Mierzejewski M., Krenke R.

Polski Przegląd Otorynolaryngologiczny

2016

vol. 5(3)

1-6

Bronchoscopy was introduced into clinical practice over 100 years ago. Due to technological advances, diagnostic capabilities of current bronchoscopy are not limited to the trachea and proximal bronchi but also include the peripheral airways as well as various anatomical structures located outside the bronchi. A wide range of available techniques that include bronchoalveolar lavage, protected microbiological brush, transbronchial biopsy of the lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes makes bronchoscopy useful in diagnosing various lower respiratory tract infections. For example, the collection of high quality biological samples for microbiological examination plays a crucial role when treating patients with nosocomial pneumonia. Bronchoscopy may provide the samples directly from the site of infection. In immunocompromised hosts bronchoscopy is routinely used as the diagnostic tool in lower respiratory tract infections. Due to implementation of novel therapies, the number of immunocompromised patients is steadily increasing, hence there are growing needs for effective diagnosis of opportunistic pulmonary infections. In the specific group of lung transplant recipients, bronchoscopy play a crucial role in monitoring the rejection process and also in differentiating between the rejection and pulmonary infections. Bronchoscopy is also useful in diagnosing tuberculosis or nontuberculous pulmonary infections. This particularly refers to patients who are unable to produce sputum for microbiological examination.

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1 Polski Przegląd Otorynolaryngologiczny

1 2016

1 Krenke R.

1 Mierzejewski M.

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The role of bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infections